Fozzy 
Lee Mason – hang your head in shame. You are a professional, so why didn’t you act like one last night? Your dreadful performance made certain that that a game of football was hardly likely to break out. You never reacted to Jack being scythed down in the opening minutes, thus giving Everton a free ticket to carry on with their thuggish tactics. Shortly afterwards, Sagna received the same treatment. Then Rosicky. Just before half-time ‘One Song’ was clattered near the corner flag. He never re-appeared for the second half. Everton played like an evil Allardyce-fuelled Bolton of old.
The second half began in similar fashion. Jack was the victim of another awful assault within seconds of the re-start and Theo has left in a crumpled heap on more than one occasion. I have seen straight reds produced for less as this ref gave us no protection from the Everton thuggery. On a few occasions the ref did whistle for a foul, but this was spoilt as he could have played the advantage rule after we forced ourselves into a good attacking position, but chose not to.
Then there was Tim Howard’s ridiculous time wasting tactics. I know that he got booked for that near the end but by then the damage had already been done. However, it was hilarious to see him starting to sprint to take goal kicks when they were losing. Earlier on you could have gone for a pint and a pie, come back, sat down, and he was still fannying about taking a goal kick.
Then there was the “offside” incident which led the Everton goal. I am sure that this will be well reported elsewhere, but I just needed to get by thoughts on paper before I read any “expert” analysis. The ref seemed to realise that he had made a terrible mistake but didn’t have the bottle to overturn it. I have never seen a crowd at Highbury or Ashburton so incensed.
Thank goodness to finally see good prevail over evil with two quick goals giving us a huge win. I was so pleased to see that The Dwarf was at the end of the first goal, and I have never ever celebrated a nod in from a corner with such ferocity and jubilation.
Well done, The Arse – I am so proud of you, especially up against a bunch of cloggers and a totally incompetent referee.
(Ed’s note – I’ve already referenced this elsewhere, but as it’s so relevant, it’s explained here why getting anything from an Everton game reffed by Lee Mason was against all odds. Well played Arsenal!)
